Micro-porous enclosure for delivering and stirring infusible and water-soluble potable matter into a liquid

Abstract

A sealed enclosure ( 10, 32 ) affords the infusion and dissolution of the essences of infusible and water-soluble potable matter ( 15 ) into liquids. The enclosure is provided with micro-porous openings or interstices ( 26 ), e.g., spacings ( 28 ) between fibers or holes or perforations ( 30 ) in a film whose opening sizes and density per unit area substantially eliminates the effect of surface tension. For infusible matter, the micro-porous openings form a screen which is smaller than the nominal size of the contents to permit infusion, without passage of the matter per se, of their taste or essence into the liquid. A pleated enclosure ( 30 ) permits a limited expansion a more efficient diffusion of the taste or essence of the ingredients into the liquid without preventing the contents from brewing or soaking too long in the liquid and possibly to change the taste before, for example, a bitter taste is imparted to the liquid. The sealed inclosure is preferably formed from a relatively rigid material to enable it, per se, to act as a stirring rod or swizzle stick.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sealed device for supplying the essences of infusible and water-soluble potable matter into a liquid comprising an enclosure having openings which are sized and have densities per unit area substantially to eliminate the effect of surface tension of the liquid and, thus, to encourage respective conveyance of the essences into the liquid.  
     
     
         2 . A sealed device according to  claim 1  in which said enclosure comprises a tri-laminated material including a construction formed from layers of a polymer material sandwiched about an aluminum layer.  
     
     
         3 . A sealed device according to  claim 1  in which the openings comprise micro-pores that form a screen in which the micro-pores are smaller than the nominal size of the matter when the matter comprises infusible matter.  
     
     
         4 . A sealed device according to  claim 3  in which said enclosure comprises a woven membrane.  
     
     
         5 . A sealed device according to  claim 4  in which said woven membrane comprises food-grade monofilament polymer.  
     
     
         6 . A sealed device according to  claim 5  in which said monofilament polymer comprises a polypropylene netting or gauze alternating with a stabilized yarn.  
     
     
         7 . A sealed device according to  claim 3  in which said enclosure comprises a tri-laminated material including a construction formed from layers of a polymer material sandwiched about an aluminum layer.  
     
     
         8 . A sealed device according to  claim 3  in which said enclosure is embodied as a tube.  
     
     
         9 . A sealed device according to  claim 8  in which said tube is formed from a sheet of material lap-sealed upon itself.  
     
     
         10 . A sealed device according to  claim 8  in which said tube is formed from a sheet of material fin-sealed upon itself.  
     
     
         11 . A sealed device according to  claim 3  in which said enclosure is formed from an expandible container.  
     
     
         12 . A sealed device according to  claim 11  in which said container has a pleated configuration to permit its expansion as the contained matter expands upon contact with the liquid without causing a squeezing pressure upon the matter.  
     
     
         13 . A sealed device according to  claim 1  in which said enclosure has sufficient rigidity which provides a adequate structural integrity to permits its employment as a stirring rod for permitting the essence of the matter contained in the enclosure to be conveyed into the liquid.  
     
     
         14 . A sealed device according to  claim 1  in which the matter contained in the enclosure is in crystalline, powder and granular form, and in combinations thereof.  
     
     
         15 . A sealed device according to  claim 14  in which the matter comprises a pre-measured medication in dry form which is dissolvable in a ready-to-use form.  
     
     
         16 . A method for supplying the essences of infusible and water-soluble potable matter into a liquid comprising the steps of providing openings in an enclosure which are sized and have densities per unit area to substantially eliminate the effect of surface tension of the liquid and, therefore, to encourage respective infusion and dissolution of the essences into the liquid.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16  further comprising the step of forming the openings as micro-pores to form a screen that are smaller than the nominal size of the matter when the matter comprises infusible matter.  
     
     
         18 . A sealed device for supplying the essences of infusible and water-soluble matter into a liquid comprising an enclosure having openings which are sized and have densities per unit area substantially to eliminate the effect of surface tension of the liquid and, thus, to encourage respective conveyance of the essences into the liquid.  
     
     
         19 . A method for supplying the essences of infusible and water-soluble matter into a liquid comprising the steps of providing openings in an enclosure which are sized and have densities per unit area to substantially eliminate the effect of surface tension of the liquid and, therefore, to encourage respective infusion and dissolution of the essences into the liquid.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 14  further comprising the step of forming the openings as micro-pores to form a screen that are smaller than the nominal size of the matter when the matter comprises infusible matter.